Can Ashgold bounce back against improving Hearts?
Once a formidable force in the Ghana Premier League, 2015 champions Ashantigold have seen their stock plummet this season after a poor run of results and the sudden departure of their head coach, Bashir hayford.
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Therefore, hosting Accra Hearts of Oak at the Len Clay Stadium this afternoon is not the kind of fixture the ‘Soccer Miners’ would have wished for in their current state.
After a jerky start, the Phobians are gradually getting their act together under Scottish coach, Frank Nuttall, and their 4-2 win against Bechem United in Accra last Wednesday was an early warning signal to Ashgold who were hammered 3-0 by WAFA at Sogakope in the midweek clash.
Hearts’ confidence is soaring at a time Ashgold need a turnaround in their fortunes to avoid slipping to the bottom spot on the log, and their stand-in coach, Yakubu Mambo, faces an arduous task to stem the tide against a side who achieved a 2-1 victory at the Len Clay Stadium last season.
Despite the availability of some fine talents such as Shafiu Mumuni, Eric Opoku and Amos Addai, Mambo is yet to guide the Aboakese lads to a win after drawing 1-1 with bottom club Bolga All Stars and losing at Sogakope last a Wednesday. As a result, the Obuasi side face must-win situation against the Phobians who are expected to parade players such as Cosmos Dauda, Richard Akrofi and Fatau Mohammed who were on the score sheet against Bechem.
Kumasi Asante Kotoko will be in the spotlight tomorrow when they play host to Ebusua Dwarfs at the Baba Yara Stadium, coming on the back of disturbances by some irate supporters who disrupted the team’s training yesterday and drove away their Croatian coach Zdravko Lugarusic from the club’s Adako Jachie training grounds.
Kotoko, who have slipped to the third spot on the league log and are without a win in their last three games, will seek to return to winning ways against the Cape Coast lads who are without a win away in five games.
Medeama will play as guests of Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park, Inter Allies will be away to Bechem United, Tema Youth will welcome Wa All Stars to the Tema Stadium and Accra Great Olympics face second-placed Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In other matches, Elmina Sharks play league leaders WAFA at the Nduom Stadium, while bottom club Bolga All Stars host Liberty Professionals at the Tamale Utrecht Academy Park.